I devoured Pig in a few short days! I was totally invested in Vale’s wellbeing and just had to find out if she was going to be ok. The dynamic between Vale and Clara really unsettled me, it’s not an easy read in that sense, but it was deeply satisfying watching her grow in confidence. I thought the subtle exploration of neurodiversity was done really beautifully, without labelling or over-stating. A great debut and excited to see what comes next from the author!

Toxic relationship and pig facts, what’s not to love?! lol What I loved most about this, apart from the pig facts, is that even Vale is flawed. She might not be “toxic” but she does have her own idiosyncrasies with an obsessive personality. But Clara is clever and is able to manipulate Vale’s neurodivergence to her will. Slowly allowing her poison to seep in and destroy Vale. It’s sinister and unsettling in a very subtle way. Like Vale, I loved her time at the Bookshop. Over time, and with the help of some beautiful work colleagues/friends, Vale starts feeling comfortable being her true authentic self. However, I can’t even begin to explain the frustration I felt. I even wanted to throw my tablet, at one point because just when you think Vale is starting to understand and see the truth, she talks herself out of it and explains/justifies Clara’s behaviour. Not gonna lie, it was maddening but that’s what I loved about it. I was fully invested and needed to know how this twisted tale would end. And the ending? I loved and hated it in equal measure. lol I wanted more but also felt that was the best way to end it. (Read it and you’ll understand, I hope lol). Thank you so much, Little, Brown Group UK (Corsair), for the arc of this amazing book. I can’t wait to get myself a physical copy.

I was hooked right from the start. This book held my attention, shocked me with recognition, taught me interesting facts about pigs and most of all, moved me deeply. It is narrated in the first person, from the perspective of Vale, an Italian born woman who now lives and works in London. She has an unusual special interest - pigs and their lives. she speaks up for pigs and often has to deal with the disinterest of others who not only don't share her curiosity but actively reject it. And reject her. Yes she is a little strange but right from the start we feel a bond with her - she is a good person and an intelligent and kind one. What's not to like? However, as she has lacked social skills she was vulnerable to being taken up by and manipulated by a glowing, bright, seemingly popular girl who takes her under her wing and utimately takes over her life. This book every so gently takes you behind the scenes of an extreme bullying and coercively controlling relationship. And, as you are always so close to Vale, inside her head, you can understand how it happens and how hard it is to escape. I was glued to this book. So grateful to Net Galley for an advance copy freely given in exchange for an honest review. This is a book I may ready again and will gift to others.I will suggest it to my book group. I am no stranger to low self esteem and to how easily this can tempt you into making poor choices with friends. It is easy to become prey to a narcissist. Vale questions herself all the time and when things go wrong, she takes on all the blame. Speaking of another healthier friendship she says, "I don't know why is it so hard; it's like there is a barrier that I can't break.I need to try and be a better friend". And in so doing, she moves even further away from her natural self, her inner guiding star, and loses her ability to know when she is being badly treated. I don't want to spoil the book for you. It needs to be read and shared. I loved it.

I can't remember the last time I so desperately wanted a fictional character to be happy. I rooted so hard for Vale, who is the definition of obliviously well-meaning even when it's destroying her life. But step back: Valentina (Vale) is an italian living in London, working in a quirky bookstore and managing their neurodivergency by absorbing information on their favourite subject, pigs, and being told what to wear and eat by her childhood friend/now-housemate Clara. Their relationship is immediately shown to be unconventional; Vale is panicking because she cannot be late home from work - after all, Clara needs her back every night to run her a bath and cook her dinner. When Vale is approached by a publisher to write a book on pigs, she must decide whether to tell Clara or keep it a secret. This toxic relationship spirals into a claustrophobic story of abuse and control that will have you shouting at Vale's decisions whilst (hopefully) emphasising with why she stays in this situation. There will obviously be a sliding scale of how believable readers will find Vale and Clara's dynamic, but for me I thought it was well-written and painted a truthful picture of how somebody, particularly someone neurodivergent, would find themselves being taken advantage of in this way. Having written all that, it feels weird to say that I also kinda wanted to live in this book?? Vale's safe space is the bookshop where she works and even though you're never quite sure whether they're taking any money, it felt like such a cosy, laid-back place to be. I loved her relationship with her colleagues, which was a joy to read and I really lost myself in the good parts of Vale's life. The scenes were so heartwarming and the perfect juxtaposition to how tense I felt whenever Vale went home! This is a really strong debut and a completely engrossing story - I know I'm going to be thinking about it for weeks to come!

Original, unnerving, upsetting and wildly uncomfortable, with little glimmers of hope and happiness sprinkled throughout. Really, really enjoyed this.